Syed Ali Shah:
Quetta: The Balochistan High Court on Wednesday expressed strong dissatisfaction over multiple security and customs checkposts at the Lakpass Tunnel, which have been causing severe traffic congestion and creating hardships for commuters. The court directed the concerned authorities to submit a comprehensive report on measures to improve traffic flow.
The two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Rozi Khan Bareech and Justice Sardar Ahmed Halimi, conducted the hearing. Despite repeated calls, the petitioner’s lawyer did not appear before the court.
During the proceedings, the Deputy Commissioner of Mastung submitted a report, but the court declared it unsatisfactory. The bench ordered the DC to personally appear at the next hearing with a detailed plan to ensure smooth traffic at the Lakpass Tunnel and its surrounding areas.
The court observed that over the past year, both criminal activities and public difficulties at the tunnel had increased, making urgent action unavoidable.
According to the petition, the Lakpass Tunnel—operational since 2005—connects Quetta with various districts of Balochistan and other major cities of Pakistan. However, the presence of Levies, Customs, and Frontier Corps (FC) North checkposts often leaves vehicles stuck in long queues for hours, causing serious inconvenience to the public and disruption to trade routes.
The court also directed the Deputy Attorney General and legal representatives of FC North to explain in the next hearing why Customs and FC checkposts at the Lakpass Tunnel have not yet been shifted to more suitable locations. It further warned that if the next report fails to satisfy the bench, the Collector of Customs Balochistan and the FC North Commandant could be summoned in person.
Legal experts say the court’s remarks highlight growing public frustration with security and customs checkposts that obstruct free movement, impact local businesses, and contribute to mounting economic losses due to traffic delays.
